Verbal Reasoning
An introduction to the tests
This booklet is designed for children who are planning to take a
school selection test. It explains briefly what the test is about, how
different question types should be approached and how the answers
should be recorded.
Samples are included of some of the types of questions that
children may encounter in the real tests. These questions and their
explanations should be worked through gradually to establish
familiarity with the nature of verbal reasoning tests and how best to
deal with their challenges.
A full-length practice test is provided to allow children the opportunity
to sit an exam under timed conditions and to practise completing an
answer sheet.
For parents
About verbal reasoning selection tests
The test is designed to assess whether grammar school is a suitable option for
your child. The tests have been designed and written by experts to test those
skills proven to indicate potential for academic success. They are timed tests that
are sat in a formal examination environment on a set date and consist of a series
of multiple choice questions. Children read the questions in a test booklet and
complete their answers on a separate answer sheet.
How to use these materials
The aim of this booklet is to familiarise children with the idea of a verbal reasoning
test and with the materials they will use on the day of the test. Children that are
comfortable with the idea of taking a timed examination and with the format will
be more able to focus their energies on the questions themselves.
The first part of this booklet looks at the general format of the test including
instructions on how to mark answers. The next section provides some worked
examples of verbal reasoning questions and it is important that your child has a
good understanding of why the questions are answered in the way they are before
moving on. The last part is a full-length practice test that should be taken in one
sitting and timed appropriately. Answers and explanations are supplied at the end
of the booklet.
For pupils
Whenever you take a test it is important that you understand exactly what you
have to do. Successful preparation for your examination doesn’t just mean learning
about the types of questions in the test. You also need to know the rules of
the examination, how to behave, how to prepare yourself and how to correctly
complete the tests so that the answers you submit are the ones you intended. You
should also know what it feels like to have to do the test in a certain time and be
comfortable with the idea of a test done by yourself.
The materials in this pack have been designed to help you to prepare for such tests.
They will help you to become familiar with the kind of questions you will face, and
the way you should answer them. If you work through this booklet and try the fulllength practice test, you should be thoroughly prepared for the real selection tests.
We will start by looking at some of the rules of the test and then at the way you
answer the questions. The later parts of this booklet look in more detail at the types
of questions you might face.
Page 2
Test instructions
Some instructions will be spoken to you; others will be written in the test
booklet. Try to remember the following:
• Read the instructions on the front of the test booklet
• Listen carefully to invigilators – they are the adults who will guide you through the
process of sitting the test. They will give you instructions about what to do
• There are some points in the test at which you will be asked to stop working and
not turn the page
• At the bottom of each page in the test booklet are instructions telling you to:
Stop…
Do not turn over until you are told to do so
!
… go on
Please go on to the next page >>>
… or that you have reached the end of the test.
END OF VERBAL REASONING TEST
Test materials
It is vital that you know how to submit your answers for marking. This booklet gives
you the opportunity to practise this.
On the day, you will have two things provided: a test booklet, containing the
questions, and a separate answer sheet.
You will need to bring with you a pencil, a spare pencil and an eraser.
Page 3
The answer sheet
Only the answers you fill in on the answer sheet will be marked. The sheet
is read by a special scanning machine so you need to mark it in a particular way
in order for your responses to be clear. You can get an adult to check that you are
doing it correctly.
The top of the answer sheet will show the name of the test and some information
about you, including your name and date of birth.
• Check that your name and date of birth are correct. Tell an invigilator if
you think there is a mistake
• If the boxes are blank, you will need to fill them out. Ask an invigilator to help.
The rest of the answer sheet contains spaces for you to submit your answers. Each
question has its own box containing the answer options. The question number is in
the top left hand corner. For example, question 1 might look like this:
1
A
B
C
D
E
• You answer each question by putting a thin horizontal line in the rectangle next to
your answer, like this (you can practise this later on in this booklet):
Page 4
• If you make a mistake, rub it out as completely as you can and put in your new
answer.
• You must only use a pencil to mark the answer sheet.
• All the questions you do will be multiple choice.
That means that you are given a range of answers to choose from. The answer
options will be printed in the test booklet but you must submit your responses on
the answer sheet.
• Most verbal reasoning questions require only one answer but some require more
than one answer. Read the instructions for each questions carefully. Here is an
example of a question with two answers:
EXAMPLE
black
mouse
red
green
hut
• You may need to fill in answers on both sides of the answer sheet.
• You must make sure that you mark your answers in the right place on the
answer sheet. Mark your answer in the box that has the same number as the
test question.
• You must make sure that all your answers are recorded on the answer sheet
before the end of the test.
The test booklet:
The test contains a number of different verbal reasoning question types. You need to
try to answer all of the questions.
Instructions are given before the start of each section along with an example
question.
You can do rough work in the booklet if you need to, or on a separate piece of
paper. But remember: the test booklet won’t be marked. All your answers must go
on the answer sheet.
Page 5
Verbal Reasoning Tests
What will I be tested on?
The questions are tests of ability, not what you have learned elsewhere in school.
They require skills that are needed to succeed in secondary education, including
your ability to:
• understand and analyse tasks
• work quickly and carefully
• apply attention to detail
• solve problems
• discover and apply rules
• repeat a particular task at increasing levels of difficulty
How long does the test last?
The test will be 50 minutes long.
The test includes examples of each type of question as part of the timed
assessment. Remember, there will be times when you need to sit and listen to
instructions, to make sure that your answer sheet has been handed in or to wait
for other pupils in the room to finish.
What kind of questions will be asked?
The verbal reasoning test asks you questions involving the manipulation of words,
letters and numbers. In some cases you are dealing with a relationship between
symbols (numbers, letters) and in others the relationship between the meanings
of words.
In the next section, you will begin to familiarise yourself with some types of
verbal reasoning questions, start to understand what they ask you to do and
have a go yourself.
In the last section of this booklet, you will be able to sit a full-length practice test.
Page 6
Verbal Reasoning Questions
To do this section you will need:
• This booklet.
• The familiarisation test answer sheet (found towards the end of this booklet)
• Two sharpened pencils
• An eraser to change answers if necessary.
You must not use a calculator for the questions involving numbers and they will
not be allowed in the real examination.
The answers to the questions can be found on page 38.
There are many different types of verbal reasoning questions. To help you to
understand the different types we have put them into five main groups. The next
section looks at example and practice questions from each main group.
• Cracking codes
• Using numbers
• Thinking logically
• Creating words
• Finding words
The questions shown here and in the practice test are not necessarily the
same as the questions you will face in the real test. They have been chosen
to let you practise the skills that you need.
General guidance:
• Read the instructions for each item type carefully. In the real test each question
type has the same instructions as are used here.
• Make sure you are clear about what you are being asked to do before attempting
the practice questions.
• Practice putting your answers on the separate answer sheet.
Page 7
Cracking codes: complete the letter series
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
The alphabet is here to help you with these questions. Find the letters that will complete
the sentence in the best way and mark the correct answer on the answer sheet.
Example
CQ
DQ
A GP EP
FP
[?]
B GO C HO
D GR E GQ
AnswerGO
These questions ask you to find a rule that orders the series of letters and then apply
that rule to the next instance.
In this question, the letters are grouped into pairs. The first letters in each pair are
in alphabetical order. C, D, E, F. The second letter in each pair features twice in the
series, and appears in reverse order; Q, Q, P, P. The next pair of letters after FP is GO,
and these have been marked on your answer sheet.
Now try these two practice questions and mark your answers on the answer sheet.
P1
DE
GH
A ST P2
TD
SE
A ES JK
MN
PQ
B TU QG
NJ
B OI [?]
C RS
JN
D RT E TV
D ER E EI
[?]
C OS
Page 8
Creating words: Create a Compound word
In these questions, find two words, one from each group, that together make one
correctly-spelt word, without changing the order of the letters. The word from the first
group always comes first. Mark both words on the answer sheet.
Example
Answer (out by open) (bite like side)
Aout Xbite
Bby
Ylike
Copen
Zside
out side (The word is outside.)
These questions ask you to create a new word from two separate words. The
question asks you to mark as your answer the two separate words.
The two words are ‘out’ and ‘side’ because, together, they make the correctly spelt
word, ‘outside’. The instructions say that you must not change the order of the
letters. The words ‘out’ and ‘side’ are the only two words that together can make
one correctly spelt word.
Now try these two practice questions and mark your answers on the answer sheet.
Remember: you have to mark two answers for these questions. The instructions also
tell you that the word from the first group always comes first in the correct answer.
P3
P4
(care read cap) (art taker ship)
A care X art
B
read
Y taker
C
cap
Z ship
(it so fill) (up in and)
A it X up
B
so
Y in
C
fill
Z and
Page 9
Using Numbers: Find the number to complete the sum
In each question, find the number that will complete the sum correctly and mark it on the
answer sheet.
Example
3 + 5 = 6 + [?]
A 1
B 2
C 3
D 4
E 5
Answer2
This question uses numbers and an understanding of the meaning of basic
arithmetical signs. It asks you to find the number that will complete the sum making
both totals the same on each side of the “equals” sign (“=”).
The sum on the right must equal the sum on the left. The sum on the left is
3 + 5 = 8. Now look at the sum on the right. The ‘+’ sign means that something
must be added to 6 to equal 8. 6 + 2 equals 8. So the number 2 has been marked
on your answer sheet, as is completes the sum correctly.
Now try these two practice questions and mark your answers on the answer sheet.
P5
100 ÷ 5 = 4 Í [ ? ]
A 8
P6
B 10 C 5
D 3
E 12
D 4
E 7
16 + 23 – 27 = 30 ÷ 6 + [ ? ]
A 3
B 6
C 5
Finding Words: Find the hidden four-letter word
In these sentences, a word of four letters is hidden at the end of one word and the
beginning of the next word.
Find the pair of words that contains the hidden word and mark this answer on the
answer sheet.
Page 10
Example
The film ended happily after all.
A The film
B film ended
C ended happily
D happily after
E after all.
Answer film ended (The hidden word is mend.)
Pay careful attention to the instructions here. The word you are looking for must be
four letters long and cross two separate words. It may include all of one word.
The hidden word of four letters is ‘mend’. ‘Mend’ is made from the last letter of
the word ‘film’ and the first three letters of the word ‘ended’. So the answer is ‘film
ended’ and this has been marked on your answer sheet.
Now try these two practice questions and mark your answers on the answer sheet.
P7
I heard a loud rumble of thunder.
A I heard
B heard a
C a loud
D loud rumble
E rumble of
P8
The doctor on call came at once.
A The doctor
B doctor on
C on call
D call came
E came at
Page 11
Thinking Logically: Solve the puzzle
Read the following information, then find the correct answer to the question and mark it
on the answer sheet.
Example
The children in the Jones family are called Archie, Jack, Charlie, Lucy and Emily.
Lucy is 1 year younger than Charlie.
Jack and Charlie are twins
Archie is 3 years older than Lucy.
Jack is 8 years old.
Emily is older than Charlie, but younger than Archie.
If these statements are true, only one of the sentences below must be true.
Which one?
A Emily is 11.
B Archie is 2 years older than Emily.
C All the children are younger than 10.
D The sum of their ages is 45.
E Archie is ten
This question tests your ability to follow a logical series of statements and answer a
question that is necessarily true based on them. Think about the information you are
given and only that information. Remember that you can do rough work in the test
booklet.
We are told all the names of the Jones children and information about their ages
either directly, or in relation to one another. From this information we can eliminate
as false all but one statement, which must therefore be true.
Jack is eight years old. He and Charlie are twins, so Charlie must also be 8. Lucy is
one year younger, so Lucy is 7, and Archie three years older: 10. Emily is older than
Charlie (8) but younger than Archie (10).
Statement E is the only one that must be true.
Page 12
Now try this practice question and mark your answer on the answer sheet.
P9
James and his friends like to read books.
Daniel is the fastest reader.
He reads 30 pages in 1 hour.
It takes Rebecca 2 hours to read the same number of pages.
James reads 5 more pages per hour than Rebecca does.
How long will it take James to read a book with 120 pages?
A 1 hour 30 minutes
B 4 hours
C 6 hours
D 12 hours
E 24 hours
Page 13
Practice Test
The following test is designed to help you prepare for a full-length test sat under
timed conditions.
Information for pupils:
• Before sitting the test, make sure you have a quiet place to work and a clock to
monitor the time.
• The test lasts for 50 minutes.
• Some of the items are like those you have worked through in this booklet. Others
will be different. Make sure you read the instructions for each question carefully.
• There may be other types of question in the real test. Some will also be the same
as are in this practice test.
• Not all the questions are as difficult as those included in the real selection tests.
Therefore the score obtained on this test will not necessarily reflect your score on
the actual selection tests.
• Each section starts with an example question showing the correct answer.
Information for parents:
• The test lasts for 50 minutes but do not start timing until your child has read all
the instructions and/or filled in all the details at the top of their Answer Sheet.
• If they have not finished at the end of 50 minutes, draw a line underneath the
question they are on, or draw a ring round its number, and then allow them to
carry on to the end of the test. When you mark the test you will be able to see
how many questions they got right in the allocated time and how many questions
overall. This will give you a good indication of whether they need to develop their
speed and/or work more accurately.
• The answers can be found on pages 40–41.
• Further guidance on developing your child’s speed and accuracy is provided in
GL Assessment’s Official Parents’ Guide to the 11+, available from high street
retailers and online.
Page 14
In these questions, one letter can be moved from the first word to the second word to
make two new words.
The letters must not otherwise be rearranged and both new words must make sense.
Find the letter that moves and mark it on the answer sheet.
Example
pound
or
A p
B o
C u
D n
E d
Answeru (The two new words are pond and our.)
1
joint
rim
A j
2
flour
3
4
drink
A d
Page 15 E t
B l
C o
D u
E r
C l
D v
E e
B r
C a
D i
E n
B r
C i
D n
E k
B a
mad
A b
5
D n
bride
A h
brain
C i
fare
A f
halve
B o
boy
Please go on to the next page >>>
6
chain
rot
A c
7
B h
reach
C a
D i
E n
C a
D c
E h
cow
A r
B e
In these questions, three of the five words are related in some way.
Find the two words that do not go with these three and mark them both on the
answer sheet.
Example
black
mouse
A black
Answer 8
9
china
handle
A taste
C red
cup
pottery
B china
C cup
hammer
A handle
10
hut
D green
E hut
hut
A mug
taste
green
B mouse
mouse
mug
red
chisel
B hammer
sweet
touch
B sweet
beaker
D pottery
hand
C chisel
soft
E beaker
saw
D hand
E saw
see
C touch
Page 16
D soft
E see
11
river
stream
A river
12
eyes
ears
B ears
around
long
fruit
A fruit
nose
D tip
tall
orange
B grape
E brook
legs
C arms
B long
grape
brook
C pour
arms
A around
14
tip
B stream
A eyes
13
pour
wide
D nose
E legs
across
C tall
green
D wide
E across
pear
C orange
Page 17
D green
E pear
In these questions, letters stand for numbers.
Work out the answer to each sum, then find its letter and mark it on the answer sheet.
Example
If A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, D = 6, E = 8,
what is the answer to this sum, written as a letter?
A+B+C=[?]
A A
B B
C C
D D
Answer D
15
If A = 2, B = 10, C = 12, D = 18, E = 20,
what is the answer to this sum, written as a letter?
E E
C+D–E=[?]
A A
16
B B
C C
D D
E E
If A = 3, B = 6, C = 5, D = 2, E = 15,
what is the answer to this sum, written as a letter?
BÍC÷D=[?]
A A
17
B B
C C
D D
E E
If A = 3, B = 4, C = 6, D = 9, E = 18,
what is the answer to this sum, written as a letter?
EÍA÷D=[?]
A A
18
B B
C C
D D
E E
If A = 9, B = 6, C = 4, D = 24, E = 3,
what is the answer to this sum, written as a letter?
EÍC–A=[?]
A A
Page 18 B B
C C
D D
E E
Please go on to the next page >>>
19
If A = 9, B = 5, C = 45, D = 3, E = 1,
what is the answer to this sum, written as a letter?
DÍDÍB÷E=[?]
A A
20
B B
C C
D D
E E
If A = 44, B = 11, C = 14, D = 22, E = 2,
what is the answer to this sum, written as a letter?
A÷BÍE+C=[?]
A A
21
B B
C C
D D
E E
If A = 12, B = 48, C = 84, D = 2, E = 6,
what is the answer to this sum, written as a letter?
DÍEÍD+A+B=[?]
A A
B B
C C
D D
E E
Read the following information, then find the correct answer to the question and mark it
on the answer sheet.
22
David, Gemma, Jane, John and Maria are 12, 11, 10, 10 and 9 years old, but not in
that order.
David is 2 years younger than John.
Gemma is 2 years younger than Jane.
Maria is older than David.
Who are the twins?
A David and Maria
B John and Jane
C Gemma and David
D Maria and Gemma
E John and Maria
Page 19 Please go on to the next page >>>
In these questions, find the two words, one from each group, that will complete the
sentence in the best way.
Mark both words on the answer sheet.
Example
Big is to (small orange colour) as wide is to (apple red narrow)
A small X apple
B orange Y red
C colour
Z narrow
AnswerA and Z (Big is to small as wide is to narrow.)
23
24
25
Page 20 Book is to (library leaf tree) as money is to (paper bank pig)
A library X paper
B leaf Y bank
C tree
Z pig
Early is to (dawn late hour) as stop is to (bus queue start)
A dawn X bus
B late Y queue
C hour
Z start
Shoes is to (mouth feet month) as gloves is to (eyes hands time)
A mouth X eyes
B feet Y hands
C month
Z time
Please go on to the next page >>>
26
27
28
29
Page 21 Was is to (is will not) as saw is to (hammer lake see)
A is X hammer
B will Y lake
C not
Z see
Film is to (camera picture old) as bulb is to (flower lamp gold)
A camera X flower
B picture Y lamp
C old
Z gold
Two is to (pair apple number) as blue is to (green colour sky)
A pair X green
B apple Y colour
C number
Z sky
Wind is to (turn hurricane tree) as rain is to (downpour umbrella queen)
A turn X downpour
B hurricane Y umbrella
C tree
Z queen
Please go on to the next page >>>
In these questions, find two words, one from each group, that together make one
correctly-spelt word, without changing the order of the letters. The word from the first
group always comes first.
Mark both words on the answer sheet.
Example
(out by open) (bite like side)
Aout Xbite
Bby
Ylike
Copen
Zside
Answer out
30
(stop watch lips) (two stick tick)
Astop Xtwo
B
Ystick
31
32
side (The word is outside.)
watch Clips
Ztick
(in rain hover) (coat fell croft)
Ain Xcoat
B
Yfell
rain Chover
Zcroft
(door bad had) (lock dock ship)
Adoor Xlock
B
Ydock
bad Chad
Page 22 Zship
Please go on to the next page >>>
33
34
35
36
(rope hope car) (sat tie less)
Arope Xsat
Bhope
Ytie
Ccar
Zless
(in out temp) (late down slide)
Ain Xlate
B
out Ydown
Ctemp
Zslide
(ape reap grape) (pear wine ate)
Aape Xpear
B
reap Ywine
Cgrape
Zate
(combine share do) (state nation red)
Acombine Xstate
B
Ynation
share Cdo
Page 23 Zred
Please go on to the next page >>>
In these sentences below, a word of four letters is hidden at the end of one word and the
beginning of the next word.
Find the pair of words that contains the hidden word and mark this answer on the
answer sheet.
Example
The film ended happily after all.
A The film
B film ended
C ended happily
D happily after
E after all.
Answer The hidden word is mend
37
The girl ate the sponge cake.
A The girl
B girl ate
C ate the
D the sponge
E sponge cake.
38
They are all going on holiday.
A They are
B are all
C all going
D going on
E on holiday.
Page 24 Please go on to the next page >>>
39
Glass bottles should be kept upright.
A Glass bottles
B bottles should
C should be
D be kept
E kept upright.
40
She sent the children to bed.
A She sent
B sent the
C the children
D children to
E to bed.
41
We get ripe apples in October.
A We get
B get ripe
C ripe apples
D apples in
E in October.
42
My drink is hotter than yours.
A My drink
B drink is
C is hotter
D hotter than
E than yours.
Page 25 Please go on to the next page >>>
43
He had hurt his knee badly.
A He had
B had hurt
C hurt his
D his knee
E knee badly.
Read the following information, then find the correct answer to the question and mark it
on the answer sheet.
44
David, Julie and Lee have to score at least 80% in a test in order to join the
Science Club.
Julie scored 72%.
Both David and Lee scored higher than Julie.
If these statements are true, only one of the sentences below MUST be true.
Which one?
A David and Lee passed the test.
B Julie couldn’t join the Science Club.
C David and Lee couldn’t join the Science Club.
D Lee scored more than David.
E David scored more than Lee.
Page 26 Please go on to the next page >>>
In these sentences, the word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out.
These three letters will make one correctly-spelt word without changing their order.
The sentence that you make must make sense.
Mark the correct three-letter word on the answer sheet.
Example
The cat scratched him with his CS.
A LAD B LAW C HAD
Answer LAW (The word in capitals is CLAWS.)
45
She CED the dog to follow her.
A ALL 46
B AWE C ORE
D PAL E PEA
B PIT C PIN
D CAN E TON
B ARK C ART
D TEE E TEA
D RAG E RAY
FS are very troublesome in summer.
A LOW Page 27 E HAS
They climbed the SPEST hill.
A TOP 49
D AWL He injured his SE in the accident.
A ELF 48
C ALE
E RED
The girl’s behaviour APLED her teacher.
A ARE 47
B RYE D RAW B LIE C LAY
Please go on to the next page >>>
50
The wine spent many weeks FERTING.
A MAN 51
B GET C WIN
D SET E MEN
D OWE E OUR
The two boys were fishing for HS.
A ACE B EEL C ALL
In these questions, find two words, one from each group, that are closest in meaning.
Mark both words on the answer sheet.
Example
(office shop start)
(work begin end)
Aoffice Xwork
B
shop
Y begin
Cstart
Answer 52
start
begin
(little pretty cuddle)
(small sweet nice)
Alittle Xsmall
B
53
Zend
pretty
Ccuddle
Znice
(idea error accurate)
(mistake joke fool)
Aidea Xmistake
B
error
Caccurate
Page 28 Y sweet
Y joke
Zfool
Please go on to the next page >>>
54
(bib cot rattle)
(sleep baby cradle)
Abib Xsleep
B
55
cot
Y baby
Crattle
Zcradle
(quick slow idle)
(rapid race arena)
Aquick Xrapid
B
slow
Y race
Cidle
56
Zarena
(bread butter eat)
Abread B
Xpeas
butter
Y dinner
Ceat
57
Zfeed
(high above apex)
Ahigh B
58
Xover
above
Y inside
Zunder
(nasty enemy hatred)
(neighbour friend foe)
Anasty Xneighbour
enemy
Y friend
Chatred
Zfoe
(daydream night awake)
(tired asleep alert)
Adaydream Xtired
B
Y asleep
night
Cawake
Page 29 (over inside under)
Capex
B
59
(peas dinner feed)
Zalert
Please go on to the next page >>>
In these questions, the three words in the second group should go together in the same
way as the three in the first group.
Find the word that is missing in the second group and mark it on the answer sheet.
Example
(man [mat] tip)
A bud B beg Answer bud
60
(show [hose] user)
A tear 61
(bread [drips] clips)
A tears 62
Page 30 B nape (sleep [plume] plums)
A trial 64
B steam (slide [dial] slave)
A pear 63
B hear B trail (spike [kick] clock)
A mean B name (bug [ ? ] dew)
C dug
D bed E wed
(when [ ? ] cart)
C went
D race E hare
(heart [ ? ] prams)
C pears
D meats E teams
(spend [ ? ] prank)
C dear
D pans E near
(print [ ? ] claim)
C train
D paint E plain
(jeans [ ? ] mouse)
C same
D nose E sane
Please go on to the next page >>>
65
(split [time] meant)
A flee 66
B blow 67
C heel
(trout [roof] frost)
A that B real B hill D blew E feel
(spare [ ? ] hotel)
C path
(alter [leer] pearl)
A hair (thief [ ? ] elbow)
D reap E hats
(chair [ ? ] plate)
C hail
D halt E hilt
In each question, find the number that continues the series in the most sensible way and
mark it on the answer sheet.
Example
2
4
6
A 16 Answer 68
69
70
Page 31 8
[?]
B 11 C 10
D 9
E 12
C 12
D 4
E 16
D 29 E 27
10
3
6
12
A 64 24
[?]
B 48 23 15 27 19 31 [ ? ]
A 22 14
11
A 32 B 23 21
18
B 42 C 25
28
25
C 40
35
[?]
D 30 E 33
Please go on to the next page >>>
71
5
3
11
9
A 20 [?]
B 19 72
12 21 39 75 [ ? ]
73
40
74
5
A 57 39
B 113 35
A 50 10
A 50 40
30
B 20 15
25
C 15
D 17 E 21
C 101
D 147 E 99
D 25 E 39
D 45 E 60
41
[?]
C 42
40
B 65 [?]
C 80
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
The alphabet is here to help you with these questions. You need to work out a different
code for each question. Choose the correct answer and mark it on the answer sheet.
Example
If the code for FOOT is ENNS, what is the code for TOE?
A STU Answer 75
C UPF
D SRQ E SNE
SND
If the code for CALF is FDOI, what is the code for LAMB?
A NCPE Page 32 B SND B ODPE C IXJY
D NCOD E ODQF
Please go on to the next page >>>
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
76
If the code for CRATE is YNWPA, what is the code for BOX?
A FSB 77
B XJS D YLU E XKT
If the code for ORANGE is RUDQJH, what does SLQN mean?
A PEAR 78
C FTA
B PLUM C PINK
D PALE E PUCE
If the code for NETBALL is PCVZCJN, what is the code for FOOTBALL?
A HMQRDYNJ B HQQVZCJN
C GPPUZCJN
D HQQVDCNN E GNPSZCJN
79
If the code for TREE is QOBB, what does DOXPP mean?
A BRASS 80
B GRASS C GREEN
D GROWS E STAFF
If the code for PIANO is QKDRT, what is the code for VIOLIN?
A WJPMJO B WHPKJO C WHNKHM
D WKPNJP E WKRPNT
Page 33 END OF VERBAL REASONING TEST
VERBAL REASONING FAMILIARISATION TEST
Practice questions
Pupil’s Name
Date of Test
School Name
Day
SCHOOL NUMBER
SCHOOL NUMBER
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[
[
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
Please mark boxes
with a thin horizontal
line like this — .
Page 8
EXAMPLE
[
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
EXAMPLE
Page 10
EXAMPLE
Pages 10 and 11
EXAMPLE
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
[
[
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
bite
like
side
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
PRACTICE 4
art
taker
ship
it
so
fill
up
in
and
PRACTICE 6
8
10
5
3
12
PRACTICE 7
EXAMPLE
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Year
ES
OI
OS
ER
EI
care
read
cap
PRACTICE 5
1
2
3
4
5
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
Month
PRACTICE 2
ST
TU
RS
RT
TV
PRACTICE 3
out
by
open
The film
film ended
ended happily
happily after
after all
Pages 12 and 13
[
[
PRACTICE 1
GP
GO
HO
GR
GQ
Page 9
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
DATE OF BIRTH
3
6
5
4
7
PRACTICE 8
I heard
heard a
a loud
loud rumble
rumble of
The doctor
doctor on
on call
call came
came at
PRACTICE 9
A
B
C
D
E
A
B
C
D
E
Page 34
© GL Assessment 2015. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced in any form or by any means, even within the terms of a Photocopying Licence without the
wriiten permission of the publishers. Published by GL Assessment, 9th Floor, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AJ. 1(08.15) PF
Page 35
VERBAL REASONING FAMILIARISATION TEST
Answer Sheet Questions 1 – 36
Pupil’s Name
Date of Test
School Name
DATE OF BIRTH
Day
SCHOOL NUMBER
SCHOOL NUMBER
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[
[
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
Please mark boxes
with a thin horizontal
line like this — .
1
EXAMPLE
2
j
o
i
n
t
p
o
u
n
d
A
B
C
D
E
22
26
EXAMPLE
out
by
open
hammer
lake
see
late
down
slide
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
[
[
20
r
e
a
c
h
fruit
grape
orange
green
pear
21
A
B
C
D
E
A
B
C
D
E
24
A
B
C
D
E
25
paper
bank
pig
flower
lamp
gold
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
14
around
long
tall
wide
across
19
A
B
C
D
E
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Year
7
13
eyes
ears
arms
nose
legs
18
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
c
h
a
i
n
12
dawn
late
hour
bus
queue
start
mouth
feet
month
eyes
hands
time
29
28
pair
apple
number
turn
hurricane
tree
green
colour
sky
31
two
stick
tick
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
6
river
stream
pour
tip
brook
library
leaf
tree
camera
picture
old
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
d
r
i
n
k
23
downpour
umbrella
queen
32
in
rain
hover
35
in
out
temp
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
5
A
B
C
D
E
apple
red
narrow
stop
watch
lips
34
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
11
17
30
bite
like
side
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
b
r
a
i
n
taste
sweet
touch
soft
see
27
is
will
not
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
4
A
B
C
D
E
EXAMPLE
small
orange
colur
A
B
C
D
E
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
10
16
A
B
C
D
E
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
h
a
l
v
e
handle
hammer
chisel
hand
saw
15
EXAMPLE
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
3
9
mug
china
cup
pottery
beaker
black
mouse
red
green
hut
0]
1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[
[
f
l
o
u
r
8
EXAMPLE
[
Month
coat
fell
croft
33
door
bad
had
lock
dock
ship
rope
hope
car
sat
tie
less
36
ape
reap
grape
pear
wine
ate
combine
share
do
state
nation
red
Page 36
© GL Assessment 2015. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced in any form or by any means, even within the terms of a Photocopying Licence without the
wriiten permission of the publishers. Published by GL Assessment, 9th Floor, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AJ. 1(08.15) PF
VERBAL REASONING FAMILIARISATION TEST
Answer Sheet Questions 37 – 80
37
EXAMPLE
The film
film ended
ended happily
happily after
after all
38
The girl
girl ate
ate the
the sponge
sponge cake.
43
39
They are
are all
all going
going on
on holiday.
40
Glass bottles
bottles should
should be
be kept
kept upright.
41
She sent
sent the
the children
children to
to bed.
42
We get
get ripe
ripe apples
apples in
in October.
My drink
drink is
is hotter
hotter than
than yours.
44
A
B
C
D
E
He had
had hurt
hurt his
his knee
knee badly.
45
EXAMPLE
46
ALL
RYE
ALE
AWL
HAS
LAD
LAW
HAD
RAW
RED
47
48
ARE
AWE
ORE
PAL
PEA
ELF
PIT
PIN
CAN
TON
52
EXAMPLE
office
shop
start
56
small
sweet
nice
bread
butter
eat
peas
dinner
feed
60
EXAMPLE
68
EXAMPLE
69
75
EXAMPLE
STU
SND
UPF
SRQ
SNE
22
23
25
29
27
76
NCPE
ODPE
IXJY
NCOD
ODQF
FSB
XJS
FTA
YLU
XKT
32
42
40
30
33
quick
slow
idle
rapid
race
arena
20
19
15
17
21
HMQRDYNJ
HQQVZCJN
GPPUZCJN
HQQVDCNN
GNPSZCJN
tired
asleep
alert
65
mean
name
same
nose
sane
72
78
PEAR
PLUM
PINK
PALE
PUCE
sleep
baby
cradle
daydream
night
awake
64
trial
trail
train
paint
plain
71
77
55
bib
cot
rattle
neighbour
friend
foe
63
pear
nape
dear
pans
near
70
ACE
EEL
ALL
OWE
OUR
59
nasty
enemy
hatred
62
tears
steam
pears
meats
teams
64
48
12
4
16
16
11
10
9
12
over
inside
under
61
tear
hear
went
race
hare
bud
beg
dug
bed
wed
mistake
joke
fool
58
high
above
apex
51
MAN
GET
WIN
SET
MEN
54
idea
error
accurate
57
50
LOW
LIE
LAY
RAG
RAY
53
little
pretty
cuddle
work
begin
end
49
TOP
ARK
ART
TEE
TEA
66
flee
blow
heel
blew
feel
73
hair
hill
hail
halt
hilt
74
57
113
101
147
99
50
20
42
25
39
79
80
BRASS
GRASS
GREEN
GROWS
STAFF
67
that
real
path
reap
hats
50
65
80
45
60
WJPMJO
WHPKJO
WHNKHM
WKPNJP
WKRPNT
Page 37
© GL Assessment 2015. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced in any form or by any means, even within the terms of a Photocopying Licence without the
wriiten permission of the publishers. Published by GL Assessment, 9th Floor, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AJ. 1(08.15) PF
Familiarisation Test Answer Key
Section
Question
Answer
option
Answer
text
Explanation
Cracking
the code
P1
A
ST
Each pair is found by counting on three letters
along in the alphabet from the previous pair.
Three letters on from ‘P’ is ‘S’ and three letters
on from ‘Q’ is ‘T’, and so the answer is ST.
P2
A
ES
The first letter is found by counting backwards
from the first letter of the previous pair by one,
then two, then three and so on. The second
letter is found by counting forwards from the
second letter of the previous pair by one, then
two, then three and so on.
Counting backwards five from the first letter
of JN (the last pair in the series) and counting
forwards five from the second letter of JN give
ES which is the answer.
Creating
words
Using
numbers
Finding
words
Thinking
logically
P3
A, Y
Caretaker
P4
B, X
Soup
P5
C
5
100 ÷ 5 equals 20, so 4 must be multiplied by a
number that will give the answer 20.
4 multiplied by 5 equals 20, so 5 is the answer.
P6
E
7
The sum on the left equals 12. So 30 ÷ 6 + [?]
must equal 12. 30 ÷ 6 equals 5 so the answer
must be 7 because 5 + 7 equals 12.
P7
D
loud
rumble
The hidden word is ‘drum’. It is made from the
last letter of the word ‘loud’ and the first three
letters of the word ‘rumble’.
P8
E
came at
The hidden work is ‘meat’, which is made from
the last two letters of the word ‘came’ and the
whole of the word ‘at’. Sometimes, instead of
a word being made from the end of one word
and the beginning of another, it can be made
using the whole of a short word with part of
another word.
P9
C
6 hours
Daniel takes one hours to read 30 pages and
Rebecca takes twice as long – two hours. In
other words Rebecca reads 15 pages in one
hour. We therefore know that James can read
20 pages in one hour because we are told that
he reads 5 more pages per hour than Rebecca.
Therefore James will take six hours to read 120
pages (which is six times 20).
Page 38
The two words are ‘care’ and ‘taker’ because,
together, they make the word ‘caretaker’.
‘So’ and ‘up’ together make soup.
Page 39
Practice Test Answer Key
The answers for the practice test are below. Only these answers are allowed. One
mark should be given for each correct answer – do not allow half marks or ‘the
benefit of the doubt’. Do not deduct marks for wrong answers.
Remember to take into account the answers your child completed once the 50
minutes was up and the questions answered after that point.
The results may suggest that more practice is needed. Remember, always try to be
positive and encouraging. Talk through the mistakes your child has made in a noncondemnatory way – work out together how to get the right answer.
Question
number
Answer
Question
number
Answer
Question
number
Answer
Question
number
Answer
1
t
21
C
41
get ripe
61
teams
2
l
22
D
42
is hotter
62
near
3
l
23
library,
bank
43
hurt his
63
train
4
i
24
late, start
44
B
64
name
5
d
25
feet, hands
45
ALL
65
feel
6
a
26
is, see
46
PAL
66
path
7
r
27
camera,
lamp
47
PIN
67
hilt
8
china,
pottery
28
number,
colour
48
TEE
68
48
9
handle,
hand
29
hurricane,
downpour
49
LIE
69
23
10
sweet, soft
30
lips, tick
50
MEN
70
32
Page 40
11
pour,tip
31
rain, coat
51
OUR
71
17
12
arms, legs
32
had, dock
52
little, small
72
147
13
around,
across
33
hope, less
53
error,
mistake
73
25
14
fruit, green
34
temp, late
54
cot, cradle
74
65
15
B
35
reap, pear
55
quick, rapid
75
ODPE
16
E
36
do, nation
56
eat, feed
76
XKT
17
C
37
girl ate
57
above, over
77
PINK
18
E
38
are all
58
enemy, foe
78
HMQRDYNJ
19
C
39
bottles
should
59
awake,
alert
79
GRASS
20
D
40
children to
60
hear
80
WKRPNT
Some final reminders…
• Read the instructions on the front of the test booklet.
• Read the instructions for each question carefully.
• Listen carefully to invigilators and the instructions they give you. They are there to
help you.
• Check that your name and date of birth are correctly shown on the answer sheet.
• There are some points in the test at which you will be asked to stop working and
not turn the page.
• Be sure to keep your place on the answer sheet. Mark your answer in the box that
has the same number as the test question.
• Make sure all your answers are recorded on the answer sheet before the end of
the test.
Page 41
Page 42
Page 43
Copyright © GL Assessment, 2015.
All rights reserved, including translation. This publication has been licensed to North
Yorkshire County Council by GL Assessment allowing the Council to distribute this
publication free of charge to Pupils intending to undertake admissions tests, or their
Parents. This publication may not be sold or distributed as part of any product or
service, including via private tuition. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, whether physical or electronic (other than by
North Yorkshire County Council for the purpose indicated above) without permission
in writing from the publishers, and may not be photocopied or otherwise reproduced
within the terms of any licence granted by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd.
Published by GL Assessment, 9th Floor, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AJ.
Printed in Great Britain.
Code 6800 112
1(07.15) PF